Improvement in check-rein guides



A. L.'WHITNEY Check-Rain Guide.

N0.- 204,269. Pat ented May 28,1878;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS L. WHITNEY, OF WALTHAM, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND THOMAS H.HUSSEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHECK-REIN GUIDES.

Specfication forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,269, dated May 28,1878; application filed September 1,1877.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS L. WHIT- NEY, of Waltham, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an ImprovedCheck-Rein Guide, of which the followng is a specification:

This inventon relatos to an overhead checkrein guide, to retainandgguide a check-rein carried from the bit up over the face and head ofa horse. v

This class of check-reins has many advantages over the ordinarycheck-rein, guided in gag-runners at the side of. the head, for itcauses the elevation rather than the depression of the horses nose whenbeing driven with a stiff rein.

Overhead check-reins are now commonly held at the top of the horseshead, in inde pendent leather or metal loops secured to the headstrap.

Many horses pull quite hard on the checkrein, causing the strap to pressthe top of the head very hard at points just under the loops which guidethe rein, such pressure making the head tender and sore.

To obviate this difficulty I have mounted the check-rein guiding-blocksupon a metallic base-plate, adapted to extend along the headstrap andacross the head,- the plate acting to receive and distribute thepressure uniformly and evenly upon the head, and at the same timestrengthen and ornament the head-stall or bridle.

Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, an overhead check-guide,p'rovided with my im provement; Fig. 2, a top view thereof; and Fig. '3,a detail showing one of the loops made adjust-able.

The metallic base-plate a is provided with holes b, to receive rivets orother fastenings, by which to secure the same to the head-strap.

The plate might be provided with metal prongs o, to be clinched throughthe headleather is wet or swollen.

- By adjusting the blocks they maybe placed in the desired position onthe base-plate, according to the Width and shape of the top of the head.

I claim As a new article of 'manufacture, an overhead check-ren guidecomposed of a metallic base plate having attached guides, the plateextendng across the head, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificaton in thepresence of two subscribng witnesses.

AUGUSTUS L. WHITNEY.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, W. J. PRATT.

